The Croat entered the match just 3-6 on the season, but fired 19 aces and won 75 per cent of his service points. He trailed 6-5 and 8-7 in the final set tie-break, before winning the last three points to take the hard-fought encounter over the Australian in two hours and 54 minutes.

Dodig advances to the round of 16 at the ATP World Tour 500 event for the second year in a row. Tomic was contesting his first tournament since reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open (l. to Federer).

American Donald Young also went the distance in his first-round match, recording a 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(6) win over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in two hours and 23 minutes. Young double-faulted on match point to allow Dimitrov to draw level at 6-all in the third set tie-break, but regrouped to win the final two points.

The 22-year-old Young next plays the winner between top-seeded countryman John Isner and Luxembourg's Gilles Muller. He will be looking to win consecutive tour-level matches for the since time since reaching the Bangkok final last October (l. to Murray).